NAME: Chris Neidhart

HOMETOWN: Annapolis, MD BIRTHDATE: 2/15/1984

#YRS. SAILING: 5

US SAILING #: 744079W

CPR/FIRST AID CURRENT THROUGH: 3/2018

CERTIFICATIONS:

US Sailing Basic Keelboat

US Sailing Basic Cruising

Maryland EMT (Current)

National Registry and Maryland Paramedic (Former; 10yrs)

 

NOTABLE SAILING EVENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS (RACING/OFFSHORE CRUISING):

Watch Captain for 2015 Annapolis to Newport Race

Helmsman 2013 Heineken Regatta (1st in Class)

Crew 2014 Heineken Regatta (3rd in Class)

Crew 2016 Heineken Regatta (5th in Class)

 

WHERE HAVE YOU SAILED:

The Upper and Lower Chesapeake Bay

St. Martin and St. Barth’s

 

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE:

Crossing a Volvo Ocean 65 was awesome.  But the most memorable experience I have came after the race.

When my wife and I first met, she was not into boating or sailing.  If she was sitting in a rocking chair and you gave it a push, she would get seasick.  I started sailing without her, but slowly she started joining me.  A little ride with the motor here, perhaps some main only lazy reaching there.  As time passed, she became more adventurous.  I called her my ‘barnacle’ as anything that involved heeling or any winds over 10kts resulted in her sitting next to me with her entire body wrapped around the lifelines.  She would tell me she was having fun but her eyes suggested that she was praying for a quick death.

When we got the opportunity to race in St. Martin, I begged, I pleaded, and I bargained until she finally caved and agreed to come.  After 6 days of living on a boat we made it to the hotel.  We propped our feet up on the balcony, poured two glasses of wine and settled in for a relaxing night.

She said: “So the next time we race…”

I immediately fainted.

 

WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT TEACHING SAILING:

Everything I’ve taught has moments.  In class or on a boat, the ‘Aha’ moments where things start to click are my favorite.  But what I love about teaching isn’t anything that happens during instruction.  It’s the moment that comes some time after the class, when you run into a former student and find out just how successful they have become with their sailing.